In a proactive move towards bolstering waste management practices within the city, Dr. Thabang Thinda, Head of the Department for Community Services, embarked on a pivotal visit to the South landfill site as part of the City's accelerated service delivery programme - the Reclaiming the City campaign. The visit, which took place on Saturday, 11 May 2024, aimed at engaging with site staff to address the prevalent challenges encountered at the landfill site.
During his interaction with the site personnel, Dr. Thinda articulated the imperative need to confront the existing challenges head-on and explore viable solutions. "We have brought in law enforcement to deal with issues of compliance. People who come to throw waste on the landfill site, dump along the road leading to the landfill and that is unacceptable," asserted Dr. Thinda, emphasizing the importance of adherence to regulatory standards.
Highlighting the regulatory framework governing waste management, Dr. Thinda underscored the lapses in compliance observed among waste removal companies. "Some of the issues we came across are expired license discs, tyres that are in a terrible state and waste reclaimers that run after vans and trucks and jump on the back of those to get recyclables," he revealed, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of the challenges at hand.
In response to the identified issues, Dr. Thinda outlined a series of priority measures slated for immediate implementation. Among the foremost concerns addressed are the operationalization of the weighbridge scale to facilitate accurate tonnage assessment for vehicles accessing the landfill site and the reinforcement of security measures to curb unauthorized activities.
With a commitment to expeditious action, Dr. Thinda affirmed that the designated priority items would be promptly addressed within the upcoming week. The concerted efforts spearheaded by the Department for Community Services under Dr. Thinda's leadership signify a concerted drive towards fostering a sustainable waste management ecosystem within the city.
The visit to the South landfill site stands as a testament to the City's unwavering resolve to uphold environmental stewardship and deliver on its mandate of ensuring the well-being of its residents. As the Reclaiming the City campaign gains momentum, the collaborative endeavors led by Dr. Thinda herald a promising trajectory towards a cleaner, greener urban landscape.
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